Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards didn’t publicly dress down his team yesterday as he did on Thursday after a fifth consecutive loss.

Instead, after 90 minutes of meetings and off-ice activities that included what he called a “discussion” among players and coaches, Richards only hinted at the fashion in which he pledged to push a floundering team that dropped to 5-10 after a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena.

“I’m not going to get into how I act or what was said,” Richards said after an on-ice practice that began 30 minutes after it was scheduled. “That’s between myself and the players and the team. You could probably tell by my emotions after the game how I felt, and I think the players felt the same way. It wasn’t an easy morning, but I think we were better out on the ice today.”

The Jackets will play the New York Islanders tonight at Nationwide Arena. They will attempt to end their longest slide since December 2011, which was the last time they lost five straight games in regulation.

The Blue Jackets ended the 2011-12 season in 30th place in the NHL. They were out of playoff contention by Thanksgiving and ended the holidays by firing coach Scott Arniel and promoting Richards from assistant coach.

That was “rock bottom,” center Ryan Johansen said.

“I wouldn’t say we’re there, but we’re on our way,” Johansen said. “I don’t ever want to go back to those days. There was a lot going on with this team, and it was a very tough time. Right now, we’re searching for the guy that is going to step up, and we can’t do that anymore.

“You have to know the guy next to you is going to do his job and you’re going to do the same. We just have to stop talking about it and go out and do it.”

To that end, a vocal Richards ran a practice that was more corrective than punitive in nature. The Blue Jackets worked on zone entries and exits and their cycle game. There was plenty of contact. There were no gassers.

“You always have to try to figure out what your team needs,” Richards said. “There are certain messages (you want to send), too. We tried to balance that today, as far as giving them a clear message and also working on some things so they can feel like we’ve taken this day to get better.”

Injured forwards Matt Calvert (abdominal surgery) and Boone Jenner (leg) skated on their own. They are getting closer to returning — one or both could practice with the team next week — and Richards made clear their absence might be the reason some of their underperforming teammates remain in the lineup.

“The guys that would probably be out would probably be some bigger names,” Richards said.

They would likely be among a too-large group of players who have so far lacked self-motivation, Richards said.

That might in part be a product of youth. The Blue Jackets were the NHL’s youngest team entering the season, and Richards said the offseason departure of veterans Vinny Prospal and Adrian Aucoin left “a huge hole” that the coaching staff might have to fill.

“The one thing I’ve learned through this is that it might be what I have to do, as far as managing the group,” Richards said.

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